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Follow these general safety tips for spas and hot tubs:

• Keep your exterior electrical receptacles covered and dry, especially around your hot tub and pool during periods of use.

• Make sure you have a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) properly installed to ensure no one gets accidentally shocked or injured by electrocution. 

• Don’t use the hot tub or your pool during a thunderstorm. 

• Before using the hot tub, have a certified electrician thoroughly inspect your hot tub and its wiring to make sure you’re in full compliance with all applicable local building codes. 

The best thing with which to clean a hot tub is whatever the manufacturer recommends; in most cases, this is a gentle surface cleaner and a soft cloth. Recommended hot tub cleaners can include specially formulated cleaning agents, mild dish soap, baking soda, vinegar, or diluted bleach. For your hot tub exterior, choose wood or vinyl cleaner (depending on the casing material).

You should never use household cleaning products, harsh chemicals such as undiluted bleach or acids, or abrasive cleansers or cloths, as these can scratch or etch your hot tub’s coating or shell and cause permanent damage.

Most hot tub motors can last between five and 10 years; however, hot tub motors can burn out sooner if the hot tub water is not maintained or if the motors themselves are not maintained or protected from the elements. Since hot tub motors (also referred to as spa pumps) power the jets and circulate the water, they are important for the functioning of your spa. Buying a quality motor, keeping the hot tub filter clean, and keeping the wet end of the motor wet and the dry end dry can help them last longer.

Hot tub repairs cost between $200 and $500 on average. You can minimize those costs by maintaining your hot tub and keeping necessary supplies on hand. An elevated shelf in the garage is a great place to store your water care chemicals so that kids and pets will stay safe and you’ll always have them around. 

Your hot tub should be drained of existing water, cleaned, and refilled every three to four months at a minimum. Follow your tub manufacturer’s recommendations for cleaning, and rinse thoroughly when finished to eliminate any residue from the cleaning products. This is also a good time to inspect your tub’s cover in good lighting for any leaks, tears, or other damage that might cause problems. 

Using your hot tub manufacturer’s suggested cleaners and methods, keep your hot tub filters clean to avoid a loss of water heat. This will help extend the filter’s useful life and efficiency. If the filter is more than two to three years old, replace it with a new one and buy a second filter to keep around as a spare.